Fibroids: Everything you need to know

Fibroids in the uterus are tumors. It develops in or on the walls of the uterus. Many people have fibroids but they don’t have any symptoms, whereas others experience pain, bleeding, or both




Symptoms

Most fibroids do not show any noticeable symptoms. Here’s some of the symptoms of uterine fibroids:


  • heavy period that may lead to anemia

  • painful periods

  • lower backache or leg pain

  • constipation

  • discomfort or a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen, especially if the fibroid has become large 

  • frequent urination

  • pain during sexual activity, which is known as dyspareunia


Diagnosis

The following diagnostic tests help a doctor detect fibroids and rule out other conditions:


Ultrasound scans: with the help of ultrasound images a doctor scans over the abdomen or the doctor may insert a small ultrasound probe into the vagina. Both approaches can detect fibroids.


MRI scans: An MRI scan is necessary to determine the size and number of fibroids.


Hysteroscopy: During a hysteroscopy, a doctor uses a small device with a camera attached to the end to check the inside of the uterus. The device is inserted through the vagina and into the uterus via the cervix. In some cases they also take a tissue sample, known as a biopsy, to look for cancer cells.


Laparoscopy: A doctor may also perform a laparoscopy before he starts fibroid treatment. This process needs a small, lighted tube to be inserted into a small incision in the abdomen to check the outside of the uterus and its surrounding structures. 


Fibroids often do not cause symptoms. This is why a person may not know that they have fibroids until they undergo a routine pelvic examination. 

Types

The classification of a fibroid is determined by its location in the uterus. The three main types of fibroid are:


  • Subserosal fibroids: These are the most common type and grow on the outside of the uterus.

  • Intramural fibroids: These develop inside the muscular wall of the uterus.

  • Submucosal fibroids: These grow into the open space inside the uterus.

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